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Lead Stories: Saturday, May 17, 2008

TFS Running Podcast 128: 2004 Olympian DAN BROWNE Sets His Sights on Eugene

Posted February 25th, 2008 at 3:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Welcome to Episode 128 of The Final Sprint Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America. Today we’re joined by Dan Browne, a 2004 Olympian in the marathon and the 10000m and a graduate of West Point.

In this interview, Dan walks us through his gutsy performance at the Olympic Trials marathon and talks about how things have gone since he hooked up with his new training group, Team Running USA. He splits his time nowadays between the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA and Mammoth Lakes, CA for his altitude training. He also talks about his recent illness and his plans for the rest of the 2008 season, including running the USA 15 km Championships that will be held on March 8th in Jacksonville, FL.

Download the podcast to listen to Dan talk about this year’s Prefontaine Classic 2 Miler, his fondness for the Army 10 miler and his military service with the Oregon National Guard, the strong faith he shares with his teammates and much more.

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Host: Jimmie R. Markham | Guest: Dan Browne
Executive Producer: Adam Jacobs
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 11.6 MB | Length: 17:01 MIN

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Jon Rankin: Training to Become An Olympian
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #2)

Posted December 19th, 2007 at 1:00 PM by Jon Rankin

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin

Welcome to the official blog of rising U.S. track & field star
Jon Rankin; the inaugural member of TheFinalSprint.com’s
Elite Athlete Blog Series. Make sure to check back every other Wednesday for Jon’s latest entry.

Hi everyone. I hope this entry finds all of you happy and healthy this holiday season. I am writing this entry while I sit on my bed feeling terribly sore. Yesterday, December 17th, twenty of us athletes from the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA experienced something that will forever change our perspectives on mental toughness and limitations: we spent the day going through the BUD/S Navy Seal training course

The day started off with all of us getting up at 4:30 AM. We departed at 5:10 AM for the Naval Special Warfare Training Center in Coronado, CA. We couldn’t arrive late because to keep the instructors waiting would have made an already-hard day that much harder. They would already be yelling at us and putting us through the worst day, psychologically, of our lives. So we left really early to avoid being late and start off on the wrong foot.
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NYC MARATHON 2007:
Elite Athlete Profile:
STEFANO BALDINI

Posted November 4th, 2007 at 8:15 AM by thefinalsprint.com

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics

One of the all-time greats, Stefano Baldini’s record indicates he is perhaps the best ever at peaking for the big championship races. The Italian won the 1996 World Half-Marathon Championships gold, the 2001 and 2003 World Championships Marathon bronze, the European Marathon Championships gold in 1998 and 2006, and Olympic marathon gold in 2004.

The winner of the 2004 Abebe Bikila Award, presented by New York Road Runners, Baldini is coached by Lucio Gigliotti, who guided Gelindo Bordin to Olympic gold in 1988. He holds the Italian national marathon record (2:07:22).
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Gail Devers Becomes Two-Time Gold Medal Mom

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 10:32 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Five-time Olympian Gail Devers and her husband, Mike Phillips, have welcomed their second daughter into their family. Legacy Brielle Phillips was born October 23, measuring up at 6 pounds, 13 ounces and 19 inches long. Legacy’s 2-year-old big sister, Karsen, is busily helping mom with feedings and diaper changes.

The 41-year-old Devers is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the 1993 world champion in the 100 meters and is a three-time world champion in the 100m hurdles, where she holds the American record. Devers competed during the 2007 indoor season and is also a coach and agent.
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Podcast 98 Roy “Robot” Martin on his Arrest, Coaching and Drug Use in Track & Field

Posted October 26th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts, Drugs In Sports

Episode 98 of The Final Sprint Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America, features my interview with two-time U.S. Olympian and National High School 200m Record Holder
ROY “ROBOT” MARTIN.

The former Olympian talks about his recent arrest, coaching, his take on the infiltration of performance enhancing drugs and how it contributed to his own retirement.

Since retiring from professional racing, Martin has focused on coaching and giving back to his community. He is also employed as a hall monitor at Florence Middle School in Pleasant Grove, TX. However, Martin was placed on administrative leave after being arrested on drug charges earlier this week. Police officials have charged Martin with drug possession, report that Martin conducted an “unauthorized drug sting” and are moving forward with their investigation. Conversely, the highly respected Martin says that he was only trying to help fight the significant drug problem in the middle school and in his community.

In the interview, Martin provides his side of the story and also discusses coaching, wanting to become the next Bob Kersee, highlights of his own career, and provides his own, startling estimate of the percentage of elite runners using performance enhancing drugs in the mid 1980’s to early 1990’s.

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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Roy Martin
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 20.2 MB | Length: 29:27 MIN

Episode sponsored by:
Camelbak - the originator and leader in hands-free hydration.

To learn more Camelbak Elixir, their effective, easy-to-use and portable electrolyte beverage, as well as Camelbak’s running specific hydration systems, please visit www.camelbak.com.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions and beliefs expressed by interviewees on The Final Sprint Podcast do not necessarily represent or reflect the opinions and beliefs of TheFinalSprint.com, TFS Media Network, The Final Sprint, LLC, and/or our sponsors.

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Former Olympic Runner Arrested on Drug Charges; Says He Wanted To Help Kids

Posted October 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 AM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Olympics

Roy “Robot” Martin broke speed records and ran his way on the U. S. Olympics team. Tuesday he was arrested for possessing Xanax without a prescription at Florence Middle School in Pleasant Grove, TX where he is currently employed.

However, Martin says that the possession stemmed from his efforts to fight the middle schools’ drug problem.

Click on the video below to watch CBS-11’s report on the Martin arrest:

For a more detailed analysis of this situation, check out the article published yesterday by TheFinalSprint.com’s Assistant Editor Jimmie R. Markham entitled High School Record Holder Roy “Robot” Martin Arrested.

For more information on Martin, please visit: www.robottrack.com/ourcoach.htm

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Olympic great Al Oerter dies

Posted October 1st, 2007 at 3:05 PM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Four-time Olympic gold medalist, former world record holder and National Track & Field Hall of Famer Al Oerter died Monday of heart failure in Fort Myers Beach, Fla. He was 71.

The greatest athlete ever to compete in the discus, Oerter participated in four Olympics, always as the underdog, and always came out the winner. With each win he set an Olympic record in the event.

A native of Astoria, N.Y., Oerter won his first gold medal in 1956 while he was a student at the University of Kansas, upsetting fellow National Track & Field Hall of Famer Fortune Gordien in throwing an Olympic record 56.37 meters/184 feet 11 inches.
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In Points Chase, Wami Will do Both Berlin & New York

Posted September 18th, 2007 at 12:44 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Gete Wami already has three Olympic medals, but the 32 year-old Ethiopian is facing a unique challenge this fall which rivals winning an Olympic title: winning the first World Marathon Majors (WMM) series and the $500,000 prize which goes with it.

Wami will be lining up at the start of the real,- Berlin Marathon on Sept. 30 the heavy favorite for victory. Should she defend her title from last year when she ran a national record 2:21:34, she would be awarded 25 points in the both the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 WMM series championships. That would put her in sole possession of first place in the 2006/2007 series with 65 points, ten more than current leader Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia.

Then, 35 days later, Wami plans to start the ING New York City Marathon where she will face Prokopcuka, the two-time defending New York Champion. If Prokopcuka wins the race, scoring 25 points, she will be named series champion no matter what place Wami comes in even in the scenario where she they both have 80 points (ties are broken based on head-to-head meetings). However, if Wami defeats Prokopcuka she will win the $500,000 winner-take-all jackpot.
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Podcast 77: 2004 Olympian DAN BROWNE on his third 20km U.S. title and more!

Posted September 10th, 2007 at 3:30 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years Bill Rodgers Sportswear is closing out their line of high-quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!

Episode 77 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with DAN BROWNE, a 2004 Olympian, on earning his third 20km U.S. title.

In the interview, Dan discusses his championship performance, why experience will be key at the Nov. 3rd U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials, and his recent decision to leave Alberto Salazar to run in Mammouth Lakes with Coach Larsen, Deena, Ryan, Meb and the rest of Team Running USA

Download the podcast to hear Dan discuss these topics, as well as, the role of faith in his athletic career, his thoughts on triple-jump superstar Jonathan Edward’s renunciation of faith, why an “attitude change” has been the most significant factor in the U.S. distance running revival, and how being a member of the U.S. military affects his opinion of Oscar Pistorius and amputee runners competing against able-bodied athletes.

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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Dan Browne
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File Size: 10.1 MB | Length: 14:45 MIN

Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years Bill Rodgers Sportswear is closing out their line of high-quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!

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Podcast 69: ABDI ABDIRAHMAN on the NYC Half, Osaka & beyond

Posted August 7th, 2007 at 4:59 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Podcasts

Episode 69 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast features my interview with American Olympic distance-runner Abdi Abdirahman.

Abdi, who earlier this summer won his second consecutive 10,000m National Championship, finished second behind the legendary Haile Gebrselassie at last Sunday’s NYC Half-Marathon

In the interview Abdi discusses his performance at the NYC Half, the upcoming IAAF World Championships in Osaka, and his preparation for and the field of competitors running in November’s U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials.

Download the podcast to hear Abdi discuss these topics, as well as, why he believes the U.S. will earn the more medals than ever before at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, looking up to Billy Mills and Bob Kennedy, the special and important place in his heart for his native Somalia, and his deep, heart felt love for being an American.

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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Abdi Abdirahman
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 9.9 MB
Length: 13:23

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

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